“The CBO also suggests an option to raise TRICARE enrollment fees, deductibles or copayments, actions also proposed by the administration last April. For working-age retirees, those under 65, fee hikes should be phased over five years and use a tiered approach so that senior-grade retirees would pay higher fees than lower-ranking retirees.

Philpott reports that the CBO says higher enrollment fees not only would raise collections but also discourage retirees and families from relying on military health care versus civilian employer health insurance. Higher deductibles and co-pays would restrain use of medical services too and also lower TRICARE costs.

Barry and his commie 'RATS stick it to the military just like they said they weren't going to. I guess Barry and Biden's hos can stop the pro-military family charade that they have been playing for the past four years. I'd bet a dollar to a donut they both are glad to be able to dump that ****.

Cut the welfare budget? surely you jest. Read a little on the results of the meeting Obama held with Al Sharpton, the NAACP, La Razza, etc at the White House in regards to America going over the fiscal cliff and guess what? They are going to start a media blitz, flood the phones of congress and go to “their” churches to push for the redistribution of wealth.
Check IT OUT.
We intend to rally through radio, television, our chapters around the country, thousands of churches starting this Sunday, and in any other public conduit we have, to communicate to Congress the need to make an agreement that protects our
community and serves the Nation. This is why people stood in line for hours all over America to vote for a change, and we are confident that President Obama will stand with them. The Congress must join with them across party lines.
Read more at http://www.eurweb.com/2012/11/rev-al-sharpton-speaks-on-meeting-with-president-obama-and-others-about-fiscal-cliff/#sYrY0d34YZPzrfS8.99

Here’s a question for the smart boys and girls at the CBO: what are military retirees (and their dependents) supposed to do in five or six years when private insurance no longer exists? Oh that’s right...get in the line for Obamacare, behind the 47-percenters.

One more thing (which never comes out in these articles, because the MSM wants you to believe the military retirees are flush with cash and insurance, and looking for tax shelters):

The average military retiree is an E-6 (SSG in the Army or Marine Corps; TSgt in the Air Force, or PO1 in the Navy). After 20 years of service, they receive about $1700 a month in their pensions, after taxes and deductions. In many localities, that big check might be enough to pay your mortgage and that’s about it. The typical military retiree needs every break they can get regarding health care, because private plans will soon disappear, and recent retirees are the lowest priority in the VA system.

My Mom is 86 this year - born Navy, grew up Navy, married Navy - Hell, she BLEEDS Blue and Gold. Not to mention the 25+ years she has volunteered at Walter Reed/Bethesda ...

Between my 2 Grandfathers, my Dad, and myself - we have a combined 80 years of service ...

NO WAY IN HELL AM I GONNA LET THIS HAPPEN. Van Hollen is my Rep - I am going to tell him that I will do everything LEGALLY POSSIBLE to ENSURE that he loses his next election IF they cut the bennies. There is a LARGE retiree population in our District ...

NO WAY IN HELL AM I GONNA LET THIS HAPPEN. Van Hollen is my Rep - I am going to tell him that I will do everything LEGALLY POSSIBLE to ENSURE that he loses his next election IF they cut the bennies. There is a LARGE retiree population in our District ...

These are NOT benefits that are GIVEN - they are EARNED !!!

**
and if your rep does not comply? What then? What if the Senate overpowers your rep with their final votes?

What do we do with a government who behaves like this, which rewards criminalism, stupidity and SLOTH over patriotism, duty to country, and sacrifice (not to mention to diss those with the hard skills, physical and mental stamina required to serve in the Armed Forces?

They promised benefits at retirement for those who would for a 20+ year hitch risk their lives, live separated from home, endure hardship conditions, and give strict adherence to rules that stripped a number of rights.

That was the deal.

This is not some comfy-cozy teacher working 8-3, 5 days a week, for 9 months a year, with all federal and state holidays, snow days, and recovery days. And then going driving each afternoon back to the security of hearth and home.

Military career soldiers are the experienced core that makes a military work. Without them, the nation is virtually defenseless.

What was promised should be paid.

35
posted on 11/20/2012 5:10:36 AM PST
by xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)

The CBO does not make suggestions. The CBO takes a request that some member of Congress makes, like ‘hey, find out how much money we would save/spend if we all wore fruit on our heads’ and they do the math on it.

So, in this case, some Congresscritter has asked the CBO to research what can be saved by cutting into military benefits. The correct target of your ire is that critter, not the CBO. They’re just nerds with calculators.

The “working age” of 65 is a straw man argument. At 60, retirees lose access to Military Treatment Facilities and at age 65 retirees lose TRICARE and are put on Medicaid/Medicare. Essentially no military retiree living outside of 40 miles from a MTF will be allowed to have TRICARE Prime or be able to afford TRICARE Standard. Studies have definitively shown that compared to civilian counterparts (except for first responders) military retirees face an earlier onset of arthritis and other medical conditions related to everything from combat and stress, firing weapons or just maintaining a required high level of physical fitness even into their 50’s. The truth is that TRICARE Prime is not for me, it is for my family. I have 100% (not everyone gets that) coverage by the VA. They can and should raise the premiums and co-pays. But TRICARE should also offer an HSP t offset increased costs. I pay out over $6K in health insurance premiums to cover dental, and utilize an HSP. The HSP is great, but it is not offered to retirees, I purchase it through my spouses employer. Call your Congress critter and let them know, any cuts or changes to military benefits need to see a corresponding cut to Fed subsidies to Union retirement plans, Obama cell phones, return to land lines only, free computer programs etc...

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